The Las Vegas Raiders’ standout pass rusher Maxx Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro with 69.5 career sacks, is generating serious trade interest across the league as the start of free agency approaches March 12.
The Raiders’ reported asking price is steep: two first-round picks and a player. Several teams have already registered interest.
How this plays out before the new league year begins may well hinge on one person’s preference. As Russini told her podcast audience in late February, the trade situation is “going to come down to what Maxx wants.”
The tension between Crosby and Las Vegas dates to late in the 2025 regular season. With two games remaining, the Raiders shut him down despite his being willing to play, locking in the No. 1 overall pick. He had already pushed through a torn meniscus suffered in Week 3 to record 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss across 15 games.
Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer, described as a confidant of Crosby, went further. Glazer said Crosby will want out of Las Vegas this offseason and that his time with the team is done.
Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors: Raiders Want Two First-Round Picks. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors: Raiders Want Two First-Round Picks. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Raiders GM’s public stance conflicts with what league sources are actually reporting
At the NFL Combine on February 24, Raiders general manager John Spytek fielded the obvious question directly.
“Maxx is an elite player, and I’ve been very upfront from the start when I got here that we’re in the business of having really good players on the team,” Spytek told reporters. When asked if any player was untouchable, though, he acknowledged the team “always listens.”
A league source confirmed the Raiders are actively seeking two first-round picks and a player. That price point mirrors what the Dallas Cowboys received from Green Bay for linebacker Micah Parsons, a trade that sent two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas last Aug.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The Raiders are for two first-round picks and a player in exchange for Maxx Crosby, per @DMRussini
Several teams are interested 👀 pic.twitter.com/Vk7IoLqBel
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 4, 2026
Crosby’s existing contract complicates how much any trade package is actually worth
Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors: Raiders Want Two First-Round Picks
Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors: Raiders Want Two First-Round Picks. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Any team acquiring Crosby would not be taking on a free agent. He is under contract through 2029, carrying roughly $30 million annually and totaling $106.5 million remaining. That commitment gets added on top of the draft capital surrendered.
Russini noted that Crosby has expressed interest in playing for New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, which has made New England one of the more aggressive suitors. But sources listed at least seven teams with reported interest, including the Bears, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Chargers, Eagles, Lions, and Commanders.
The Parsons benchmark is relevant, but cannot be a perfect comparison. Parsons was 26 when traded and had no recent injury history. Compared to Crosby, who turns 29 in August and had meniscus surgery this offseason.
Any team working backward from the Parsons deal to justify two premium picks for Crosby will need to factor in the difference above. That gap in circumstances is precisely what makes the Raiders’ asking price a hard sell for most contenders, even the ones genuinely interested.